Senior Advisor Forestry/Project Manager

SNV is a Netherlands based development organization committed to eliminating poverty and inequity in emerging markets worldwide by promoting Market Based Solutions for the Poor. SNV provides advisory services to leading public and private clients to catalyze innovative and strategic solutions that drive growth and performance while generating jobs, income and improved access to basic services for the low-income segment. SNV focuses on the agriculture, renewable energy and water & sanitation sectors.

SNV Viet Nam, in collaboration with several international partners, are involved in a global study which will ultimately aim to improve the collection and ownership of forest information by local communities for the benefit of improving communities access to markets for timber and other ecosystem services.

The project will first aim to test different systems for the collection and community ownership of information related to forest ecosystem services. Using this information, the project will then look to test the idea of expanding the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standard beyond its existing scope which only includes the environmental benefits captured in the timber. Through the measurement of other environmental services (such as water and biodiversity), and piloting of certification for these additional ecosystem services, the project will aim to improve the link between communities and markets for forest services. The activities will be tested across two pilot sites in Viet Nam, as part of a broader global study involving countries from South-East Asia and Latin America.

They are seeking a highly qualified national candidate to manage the project activities (this includes developing activity plans, budgeting, progress reports in collaboration with partners):

Senior Advisor Forestry/Project Manager

Duty station: to be based in Hanoi with frequent travel to the field sites

Main duties and responsibilities:
- Identify and test methodologies for information generation for different forests and environmental services
- Develop effective community collected information and data sharing systems which ensure the long term access and use of information by communities
- Assess the role of information management in increasing local people’s influence in benefit-sharing arrangements
- Review existing national certification standards and initiatives
- Develop a Strategy for a FSC national standards
- Design a new business model for ecosystem service-based FSC certification in Viet Nam
- Coordinate the pilot testing of the expanded national standards for expanded FSC certification
- Present results of the pilot trials at national and sub-national workshops

Requirements:
- Masters or higher level degree in Forestry, Environmental Science or other related fields
- Minimum 7 years relevant experience in working in Forestry in Viet Nam with extensive experience in project management
- Experience with Payments for Ecosystem Services and/or FSC would be considered favourably
- Strong  skills in working with local communities and local government offices
- Demonstrating initiatives and ability to work independently
- Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills (English and Vietnamese)
- Good computer skills in MS-applications (Word, Excel, Internet, Email, Power Points)

Duration of assignment
SNV offers one-year contract with the possibility of extension and a competitive salary package.

Application procedure
Interested persons should submit their letter of motivation, recent curriculum vitae in English to:
SNV Netherlands Development Organization; 6th Floor, Building B, La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can, Hanoi, Vietnam or by E-mail to: [email protected]  by May 20th, 2011

SNV is an equal opportunities employer.